Every day, millions of people walk through Tokyo's train stations without thinking twice about where they're going, let alone the energy their steps are wasting. Japan, however, has been thinking about exactly that. The country has been quietly experimenting with a technology that captures the kinetic energy produced when a person takes a single step and converts it into usable electricity. It is called piezoelectric energy harvesting, and it works by embedding special pressure-sensitive materials into floor tiles and mats in high-footfall public spaces. The idea sounds simple enough, but the science behind it, and the scale at which Japan has begun testing it in real urban environments, makes it one of the more interesting sustainable energy experiments happening right now.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
